Outsole for shoes



4March 2o, 1945. J. GREG@ HAL OUTSOLE FOR SHOES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1942l IJs/VENTOMy .70N GRPGG Aun DAV/0 f 5V/N ATTORNEY i2.. f w19..

WH 20..: .In Il. L VMM m W Mai-ch 20, 1945. x.,GREGG ETAL 2:37.1689

I oUTsoLE FOR sHoEsy Filed Nov. 17, 1942 3 Sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY Marh 2o, 1945. GREG'G Em 2,371,689l

OUTSOLE FOR SHOES Filed Nav. 17, 1942 s sheets-sheet s INVENTORS Jo/v GREGQ m Dano E. Ev/N ff'I BY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 20, 1945 I f UNITED' STATES l PATENT .om-icc ouzrs'oLE Fonsnons J on Greg-g, New Hopala;` and Dav'E. Levin,

New Yori-:,N. Y. l

` Applicata 'November 17, 1942; Serial .No.easvc 2Glalmsl (CIL-"ggnm A further object of the vinvention is the prior/.i-A

' Fig. lr6 is a bottom View `of the outsole before ttisassembledfin-theshoe; f l

`sionof an outsole which is Waterproof and prefqerably resilient and` which can be kmade with .a

smallquantity of rubber or reclaimed rubber.`

A yet further object of the invention .is ,generally to provide an outsole of improved construction and an efficient method of ,producimgr out4 soles.

`van'tages of the invention will be fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the `accompanying illustrative draw-y ings..` 1 l In the drawings:

` Fig. 1' is a top .plan View of the several parts of the outsole, 'illustrating one stepin the manu- 'facture vthereof 1 Fig. 1A is a plan View, on vasmaller sca1e,of the outer layers of the outsole;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View., on asmaller scaleoi.`

the parts illustrated in Fig. l, showing Vsaid parts -The above and other objects, featuresand .ad-

trating,` respectively, `methods of molding other tynesofoutsoles.; y

' Aiig. Misa r-side view of afhighheeledshoeprovidediwith an outsole embodying the present in,

ventionz; v f Eig. :151s 'asi-de view of the outsole before it assembled in the shoe; l

Fig. 17 `is a :plan 'view 1of -a :device which may be utilized .for facilitating .the .manufacture of thefoutsole; l. f l

.-F-ig.` 18 is asectional view, on the ,line la-I8 of Fig. 1'?.` l i Referring nowl to the drawings in detail, the

completed shoe embodying the present invention and provided with an outsole -of the invention is :illustrated .in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, `said shoe having an upper il), an outsole l2 ,and also prefereblt7 an insolel. It will be understood that theshoecan be of Aany desiredstyle and that the upper can be substantially 'diierent trom that illustrated.` Thus, for example., a shoe embodying the `present l inventioncan be a sandal or any `other typeof shoe.` "The outsole l2 and the method of producing same will now be more .particularly described.

,'The outsole l2 comprises an inner"member`.|6

of substantially the same` size and shape as that ofthe finished outsole. i ASaid inner member is of substantial thickness, `and when, as here shown,

, theoutsole is of theplatform type, the thickness in a more advanced stage of manufacture-of the outsole; l l s Fig. 3 isV a sectional view, on vthe line 3k-3 of A Fig. vl is a side viewof .a shoe andof the loutsole, embodying the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View, `on -a larger scale, on

the line 5`-5 ofFig. 4

Fig. 6 v.is a bottom plan -viewlof the completed outsole; Y

K Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 5., showing a modiication;

Fig. .8 is .a View similar to Fig. 3, illustrating various features `of the present invention.;

Fig.. 9 Vis a fragmentary top plan View fof amis ratus for manufacturingr outsoles embodying the present invention.;

Fig, 10 is a lsectional View on the lin-e 'l0-Hl of Fig..9,;

11 .is `a more or .less diagrammatic View illustrating the rmethod .of `molding the outsole with alheel of the wedge type;

Figs.. .12' and 13 are views similar i@ Fig. `11 i1-los;

` vulcanized, secures fabric layer t8 to said inner n of said inner Amember is preferably onlyslightly 1 less than the 4fina-1 ythickness of the outsole. l said `inner member preferably .has a cushioning or `rei lsilient characteristic, and while" it is` preferably made of hair felt, `it can be made of any other l l suitable material, a few osuch other `materials be'ing jute padding, lcotton padding,compressed paper, palper pulp, etc.` The inner member Ald-is enveloped at `the bottom and -sides thereof by a layer 1B -of fabric y'or other suitable sheetlrna'terial `secured tosaid inner member, preferablyby an interposed thin layer 21) of rubber `Whiehwhen fl and providesa waterproof outsole. 'Whilezlayer 20 is preferably formed-of rubber, reclaimed rubber, or synthetic .rubbenallof which materials ane hereinafter" referred `to as rubber, it is *within -the scope vof this invention `to utilize insteadV of .rubber ia llayer -ofpyroxylin `cement or any 4other adhesive. or a layer of a plastic or its equivalent 'tor Isecuring the layers l I8 and'lll to each Vother andto the inner :member it.l

Theenvelopl-ng .layer ifcanlbe formed of any ,suitable sheet material, vbut is preferably :formed of fabric and which can be a woven or a knit fabric. fabric known as a rug ller fabric, such fabric having a, loose weave and being formed of cotton yarn of oppositely twisted threads, said threads having a W or loose twist. `The loose Weave permits the rubber vto penetrate into or through the fabric and further, especially because of the low or loose twist of the threads ofwhichthe fabric is composed, the rubber can penetrate into and between the strands of the threads. When the fabric is comparatively closely woven, it may be perforated at theportions through which penetration of rubber to the outer side of the outsole is desired. As illustrated in Fig. 6, a greater penetration of rubber is provided in the areas A and B at the toe and in the region of the ball The preferred fabric is woven cotton marginal edge portion thereof.

skin coated or frictioned on the inner surface of the fabric layer. This also applies to plastic or other adhesive which may be used instead of rubber. After layers I8 and 20 are assembled with inner member I6, asillustrated in Fig. 1, said layers are folded upwardly to the positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, said layers conforming to the contour of peripheraledge 22 of inner member I 6 and the marginal edge portions I8a and a of said layers being disposed over the upper surface of the inner member I 6 at the Then the assembled inner member I6 and the layersvl8 and 20 are molded under heat and pressure in a suitable mold, as a result of which the rubber layer 28 is vulcanized and is caused to penetrate into line to a greater extent than in other areas, these areas A and B being, in general, the areas of the outsole which are subjected to most wear in the use of the shoe.

The fabric and rubber layers extend upwardly from the bottom of the outsole over the peripheral side edge 22 of the inner member and, for one type of shoe, are secured to the upper surface of saidinner member at the marginal edge portion thereof, the overlapping upper marginal edge portions of layers 'I8 and 20 being indicated at I8a and 28a, respectively As illustrated in Fig. 5, the upper I0 andthe insole I4 are secured to the upper surface of the outsole I2 in any suitable way as by an adhesive or by stitching', the adhesive method of attaching the outsole to the upper and to the insole being illustrated herein. The superimposed layers I8 and 28 are provided with cut-outs I9 and 2| at the toe and heel, respectively, to facilitate folding vof the composite layers over the inner member I6, as illustrated in Fig. 2. If desired, the device illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18 may be utilized for facilitating the folding of the upper marginal edge portionsof layers I8 and 28 over theupper surface of inner member I6 and for facilitating the securement of the folded marginal portions of said layers to vsaid upper'surface of inner member I6. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. v17 and 18, a plate P of bre or other suitable material is provided with an opening 23 of the shape of the outsole. The inner member I 6 having the layers I8 and 20 applied thereto, is positioned in said opening, the edge of plate P at said opening holding the upwardly projecting portions of said layers snugly against the peripheral side edge of inner member I6. kThis Ypermits themarginal edge portions I8a and `20a f to be foldeddown into engagement with the upper surface of. inner member I6, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 18. Said marginal edge portions I8a and 2ila may be secured k in a downwardly folded position adhesively, by the rubber of layer 20a or by some other adhesive, or said foldedover portions Ia and 20a may be stitched to said inner member I6 by a line of stitching 25, as indicated in Fig. 18.

. The method of manufacture of, the outsole will -stead of being applied as a separate layer may be or through the fabric to the desired extent and at the desired areas of the outsole. 'Ihe mold is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Figs. 9 and l0. `As here shown, the mold comprises a at plate 26 provided with a plurality of cavities 28 of the desired outsole size and shape. Said moldeplate 26 can be formed of any suitable material such, for example, as compressed ber board or compressed wood fibres. Preferably, but not necessarily, said mold plate 26 is formed of Masonite After the parts are assembled as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, they are placed in the mold cavities 28, the depth of said cavities being preferably somewhat deeper than the nal outsole thickness so that the upper shims, when the latter are used, are partly in the mold cavity. When the outsole units are in the cavities 28 they are subjected toheat and pressure in the press, which is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 10, the ram or plunger of the press being indicated at38 and the decks at 32. In the press, the mold plate 26 is movably and removably supported on a metal plate 34 which rests on'the press decks 32, said plate being positioned between the side member. or metal bars 36 which are slightly thicker than mold plate 26, and, therefore, limit the movement of the press plunger 30. l

As indicated above, the rubber layer 20 can be caused topenetrate completely through the fabric layer I8 at various areas thereof, as may be desired, for example, at the areas A and B as illustrated in Fig. 6. This may be accomplished in accordance with the present invention by positioning a shim or thin'pressure-plate 38 (Fig. 8) on the upper surface of the assembled parts in the press, so that when plunger 30 is depressed greater pressure is exerted by said plunger on the part of the outsole at which said shim or pressure-,plate is positioned, thereby resulting' in a greater penetration ofthe rubber through the fabric layer I8 aty the bottom of the outsole in the area corresponding to the areaof the shim. While, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the'greaterpenetration of the rubber through the fabric layer I8 at the bottom of the outsole is indicated at the toe and at the intermediate portions of the outsole in the region of the ball line, forwardly thereof, it will be understood that similar penetration of rubber vcan be obtained at any other parts of the outsole by the use of pressure-plates of suitable configuration and size.

Also, in accordance with the present invention, thek penetration of rubber through the fabric can be prevented, as maybe desired, at any part ofi desired to prevent the penetration of rubber through the peripheral edge portion 4I] of fabric layer I8.` This can be readilyaccomplished by interposing a strip `42 of paper or othersuitable material between the inner surface of the pe- 5 ripheral edge portion 40 of the fabric layer and the adjacent portion of rubber layer 20, as` illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Fig. 8.`

Similarly, for example, when it is desired to prevent adhesion of marginal edge portion a of l0 the rubber layer and the marginal portion I8a of the fabric layer to the upper surface of inner member I6, this can be readily accomplished by interposing a paper or other suitable protective strip 44 between'the upper surface` of `said inner 15 member I6 and the marginal edge portion 20a` of rubber layer 20.

As shown in Fig. '7, the fabric and rubber layers I8 and 20 instead of being secured to the upper surface of the inner member I6 or instead of 420 being positioned between the upper surface of the outsole and the upper, can be directed up` wardly beyond the upper surface of inner member I6 and vulcanized or otherwise secured to the side portions of the upper II'IA above the upper 25 surface of said inner member, the upper surf-ace of inner member I6 being secured adhesively or in any other suitable way to the lasting allowance of the upper and to the insole I4. It is also within the scope of this invention to form the upper as a continuation of the upwardly extending peripheral portion I8a of the fabric layer, after s-aid fabric layer and the interposed rubber layer are secured to the inner member. In other I8a of the fabric layer.`

Figs. 11 to 13 illustrate more or less diagrammatically various methods of molding the asvwords, the lower edge of the upper can be secured to the upper edge of the peripheral edge` portion l sembled inner member and fabric and rubber layers. As shown in Fig. 11, for producing an outsole of the wedge type, e, heelpart IBA, which can be of the same material aslthat of member I6, is superimposed on the inner member I6 for` increasing the thickness thereof `at the wedge forming part of the outsole which ordinarily extends from about the ball line rearwardly to the back of the outsole. A filler and auxiliary molding plate 5I) is disposed at the upper surface of 50 the assembled parts so that when the assembly is subjected to pressure in the mold`28 there will be produced a unitary outsole 12B of the wedge heel type, the inner member I6 including the supplementary portions I6A,-being enclosed 55 within the fabric layer I8, secured by the rubber layer 20 in the same way as described above with reference tothe Loutsole I2. Fig. 121 illustrates a. method of producing an outsole I2C in which the rear part 52 of the outsole is positioned above 60 the part 54 thereof, for the attachment of a separate heel to said rear part 52. For` this purpose, the `ller and shaping plates 56 and 58 are utilized at the top and bottom portions of the assembly in the mold. Similarly, as illustrated. 65

in Fig. 13, when it is desired to shape the outsolejto the form illustrated I2D, the ller pieces or shaping plates 60 and 62 are utilized at the positions illustrated, piece 62 resulting in a recess 64 being formed in the bottom of the out-' 70` sole near. the heel portion thereof. It will be understood that the ller or supplementary molding pieces 50, 56, 58, 60 and 62 extend substantially for the full width of the outsole at the poronto the top of the pad, anda layer of moldable, thermoplastic material of substantial thickness' material.

tions thereof which underlie said pieces, respectively, in the mold.

yIt will be understood, of course, that shoes embodying the present invention and provided` with outsoles constructed in accordance therewith, may be of various types and styles for men and boys as well as for women and girls.V Fig. 14

. shows a high-heeled shoe provided with an outsole embodying the presentinvention.f As here shown, said outsole I2' is substantially of the same construction as the outsole I2 hereinbefore described and is secured to the upper I0' substan- `tially in the same way, except that said outsole I 2"`has a rearportion` 66 of reduced thickness and isv secured to a thin heel piece 68 of fibre or any other suitable material.

relation to the forward part of heel piece 68.

'This construction facilitates the attachment of the rear part of the outsole to the heel 10, the

nails or other fastening means (not shown)` cus` tomarily utilized for securing the heel to the` rear I part of the outsole passing through said heel piece 68. f

It is withinthe scope of our-invention tocover theV outer surface of fabric layer I8 completely or atany part thereof, as may be desired, with a layer or coating of rubber.` It will beunderstood that the outer surface of fabric layer I8 may be covered with rubber at the peripheral edge 40 of the outsole, if that' is desired, although l in accordance with the preferred embodiment of our invention, said peripheral edge of the outsole` does` not have an external coating of rubber.l It will be understood further that the"` outerfsurface of the sole `may be covered with a waterproofing agent, preferably a plastic applied to the outersurface of the fabric` and/or other mate` rial at the outer surface of the sole on the bottom thereof as well as on the peripheral edge thereof,

if desired. l

- It will be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made in the shoe `and out-V sole constructions and in the method of making the same, disclosed herein, and will occur Ato skilled artisans, in view of the present disclosure. Accordingly,we do not wishto be limited to the invention as herein specifically` shown or described except to the extent whichinay be required by the scope of the appended claims.

. Having thus described our invention,what we claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is: .v

1. A sole comprising a sole-shaped pad of soft compressible fibrous material,` a fibrous textile material wrapped about the bottom, side and onto the top of the pad, and a layer of vulcanized rubber of substantial thickness between said textile material and pad uniting said textile material `to saidr pad at the bottom, side and topp and penetrating between the bers of said pad, and

into the interstices of the textile material.

2. A sole comprising a sole-shaped padof soft compressible fibrous material, a fibrous textile l material'wrapped about the bottom. side and between said textile material and pad uniting vsaid textile material to said pad at the bottom,

side and top, and penetrating between thelflbers of said pad, and into theinterstices of the textile DAVID E. LEVIN.`

JON GREGG.

Said `rear portion 66 is preferably tapered, as clearly shown in Figs; 14 and 15, and is secured in overlapping 

